How can Volvo Trucks’ Dynamic Steering predict a risk before you’ve even noticed?

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Imagine you’re driving on a wet, slippery road and you suddenly notice that the rear of the truck is starting to lose its grip on the tarmac. Before this develops into a skid, you steer gently in the opposite direction until the danger is over. Stability Assist works this way - it’s one of the new safety features of Volvo Dynamic Steering. The big difference is that the system can predict the risk and help prevent an accident by stabilising the vehicle before you’ve even noticed that something is about to happen.

Today there are approximately 26,000 road fatalities in the European Union annually. Volvo, as a vehicle manufacturer believes it can do a lot to contribute to reducing these numbers and protect and save lives everyday. One such solution is Volvo Dynamic Steering. First launched five years ago, Volvo Dynamic Steering was an instant success with fantastic customer feedback. Who can forget Volvo’s YouTube Dynamic Steering video, starring John Claude Van Damme, that became one of the most popular online truck posts to date (see video below). Dynamic Steering is designed to give better directional stability, easier manoeuvring and reduce the risk of accidents. 

Dynamic Steering was originally developed to automatically compensate for unevenness in the road surface and to eliminate vibration or kicks in the steering wheel. When driving at low speed, steering wheel resistance with Dynamic Steering is reduced by about 75 per cent – a major benefit when reversing and in close-quarter manoeuvring. The steering wheel also automatically self-centres as soon as the driver’s grip on the wheel lightens and at higher speeds, the truck confidently maintains its direction even on poor surfaces and in strong side-winds.  

In late 2018, Volvo unveiled Dynamic Steering 2.0. The latest version increases safety and driver comfort levels even further, while giving drivers more control, better stability and reducing occupational injuries. Volvo Dynamic Steering 2.0 is also designed to give perfect precision and take the strain out of steering. The Volvo Dynamic Steering unit combines conventional hydraulic power steering with an electric motor that is fitted to the steering gear.

There are four major developments with Volvo Dynamic Steering 2.0:

VOLVO DYNAMIC STEERING WITH STABILITY ASSIST:

Volvo Dynamic Steering with Stability Assist minimises the risk of skidding on slippery roads and can help prevent life-threatening accidents. When a truck starts to skid, it is important quickly and smoothly to counter steer the vehicle in the right direction to keep control. Sensors in the frame continuously monitor the truck’s rotational speed (yaw) and when the slightest skidding tendency is detected, the system is activated and provides light steering wheel assistance to help the driver steer in the opposite direction, stabilising the vehicle.  

VOLVO DYNAMIC STEERING WITH LANE KEEPING ASSIST:

Volvo Dynamic Steering with Lane Keeping Assist is designed to stop trucks from drifting out of their lane. It provides either a gentle steering intervention or a pulse through the steering wheel to alert the driver when the truck has drifted over a lane marking. Fatigue and inattention can cause vehicles to drift into the wrong lane, which can result in roll - over accidents or serious vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. Now, the new Volvo Dynamic Steering with Lane Keeping Assist includes corrective steering. If a truck is on its way to drifting out of its own lane, the system supports the driver with a short corrective steering measure to guide the vehicle into the lane again. The intervention is gentle, allowing the driver easily to override it when swerving to avoid an object or making another manoeuvre. 

VOLVO DYNAMIC STEERING WITH PERSONAL SETTINGS:

Through the new Personal Settings function, drivers are able to fully customise the steering on a Volvo truck equipped with Volvo Dynamic Steering. The system allows drivers to choose between pre-programmed settings or customise their steering preference using four different variables (Straight, Cornering, Damping and Return) to get the perfectly tuned steering response.

Default - Delivers a balanced feel. Volvo Trucks’ default setting is based on the preferred settings of truck drivers using Volvo Dynamic Steering in the field.

Light - Delivers light, responsive steering.

Responsive - Delivers more rigid steering with a sporty feel. 

Stable - Delivers firm steering with good response. 

Custom - The CUSTOM Volvo Dynamic Steering menu allows drivers to tune the steering perfectly. Adjusting the STRAIGHT setting gives the driver lighter or firmer steering. Tuning the CORNERING variable can ease or stiffen steering on corners and turns. DAMPING controls how fluid the steering feels. RETURN controls the speed of the wheel return when manoeuvring at low speed. 

VOLVO DYNAMIC STEERING WITH EXTERNAL STEERING:

With Volvo Trucks' new Volvo Dynamic Steering with External Steering feature, the truck can be controlled from the outside, freeing the driver to manage other tasks. It removes the need for a second operator and reduces injuries and delays. The feature is made possible through Volvo Dynamic Steering technology. Using External Steering, the truck’s speed is capped at 10km/h and bodybuilders can add an optional emergency stop button. Operation is via a remote control and this is ideal for where repeated short movements of the truck are combined with work outside the cab. Productivity improves, not to mention how a working day becomes a lot more comfortable.

From day one, Volvo Dynamic Steering has provided perfect stability at high speeds, total control at low speeds and reduced the strain on arm muscles. Now Volvo Dynamic Steering 2.0 helps avoid skidding and unintentional lane changes, lets the driver set steering wheel preferences and even offers remote steering control.

Volvo’s patented technology combines conventional hydraulic power steering with an electric motor that's fitted to the steering gear. Processing input from multiple sensors, the ECU (Electrical Control Unit) works out where the truck’s going and the driver's intention. The motor is controlled 2,000 times every second, and uses a principle called 'torque overlay' to correct unintentional steering movements and to provide extra steering torque when needed. Volvo Dynamic Steering is now available for all axle configurations – including those with dual front axles.

The strain has also been taken out of reversing a fully loaded truck. Volvo Dynamic Steering gives perfect precision, near effortless steering and returns the wheel to neutral automatically. And with improved course stability, a reverse of more than a 100 metres can be completed without drifting off course.

The course corrections a driver makes after braking on an uneven surface? Gone. Kicks from potholes, road ruts and markings? Almost undetectable. Volvo Dynamic Steering even balances the effect of strong side winds. The truck will only change direction when the driver wants it to.

Volvo Dynamic Steering is just one of the ways Volvo Trucks is contributing to safer traffic in everyday life. It’s part of our vision that no accidents involving a Volvo truck should ever occur.